New research from the Yale School of Medicine reveals that lower proportions of specific sleep stages (slow wave sleep and REM sleep) are associated with reduced brain volume in regions vulnerable to Alzheimer’s disease development. The study, which assessed 270 participants, found that individuals with less time in these critical sleep stages showed smaller volumes in the inferior parietal region, which typically undergoes early structural changes in Alzheimer’s disease. Lead author Gawon Cho suggests these findings provide preliminary evidence that reduced neuroactivity during sleep may contribute to brain atrophy, potentially increasing Alzheimer’s risk.
The research, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, highlights sleep architecture as a potentially modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. However, the researchers emphasize that further investigation is needed to fully understand the causal relationships. Looking forward, this research is particularly significant given that Alzheimer’s affects approximately 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older, with projections showing this number could double by 2060.
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